In Sierra Leone, we are a Local NGO and work closely with The Sierra Leonean Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs (MSWGCA). We belong to the Child Protection Committee and also Family Tracing & Reunification (FTR) Group.

We are the leading child welfare provider in an area known as Western Rural with a population of approximately 250,000 people. This is the rural area immediately on the outskirts of Freetown and covers the Freetown Peninsula (excluding the urban area itself).

What do we normally do?

Our primary work involves supporting homeless children or street children.

But this often includes abandoned infants, referrals from social services and children whose families are unable to cope for whatever reason. Our emphasis is on ending their time being homeless and helping them to deal with their problems. Once the process has begun and they are settled, we help them on their journey to reunify them to a settled home with their relatives and ensure they are enrolled in a school for their continued education. This is facilitated via our residential home at Grafton.

On average the children live with us in the home for one academic year during which time we assist them to rehabilitate, adjust to schooling and work with their families to ensure a successful return.

Partners

Working with Toybox

Toybox are a much larger and well established charity who have working with street children in South America for many years. Their overriding aim is to help children marginalised and abused by those who should protect them. They work with other children's charities in different countries, and chose to work with St George Foundation in Sierra Leone.